Auto accidents, roadwork zones, speed traps—we all know what happens when a major highway gets constricted by a lane or two. If you’re on it, you’ll certainly get slowed down, or possibly detoured onto side roads that send you in the wrong direction. Best case, you’ll be late; worst case, you might not get there at all.

In a similar way, electrical impulses travel through the nervous system, carrying messages between your brain and the rest of your body. And when the main roadway—the spinal column—gets constricted, those messages don’t travel as they should.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis vs. Cervical Spinal Stenosis

This constriction, known as spinal stenosis, is most often caused by the normal wear and tear of everyday activities that weaken the spine over time. Stenosis produces various symptoms as nerve messages get blocked, slowed down or diverted. When the stenosis is in the lower back (known as lumbar stenosis), the spinal nerve roots are compressed, producing symptoms such as pain, weakness, or numbness in the legs and buttocks, which might get worse with walking. Cervical stenosis, which occurs in the neck, is less common, but more serious because it involves compression of the spinal cord. It can produce similar symptoms in the shoulders, arms and legs. However, it may also produce hand clumsiness, gait and balance problems, and in severe cases, it can interfere with bladder and bowel function.

Lumbar Stenosis

On the highway, the problem that causes the most grief gets the most attention. An accident during rush hour, for example, gets cleared away immediately, but broken pavement that causes accidents might not get addressed all winter. With stenosis, people tend to call the doctor when they have persistent pain, such as the leg pain common with lumbar stenosis. When legs hurt, it’s easy to imagine the back being the problem, and to think that an orthopedist or neurosurgeon can help you find and fix it.

Cervical Stenosis

Meanwhile, cervical stenosis can be causing more serious problems that no one thinks to mention to the doctor. When describing the nature and location of her leg pain, will Grandma also think to mention that she tends to wobble when she turns around? Or that she has bumped the frying pan when she meant to grasp the handle? No, she already knows she needs to be more careful, and certainly doesn’t need a doctor to tell her something as obvious as that. So the lumbar stenosis that causes pain gets attention, while the cervical stenosis that can lead to serious falls or accidents might not.

Stenosis Treatment

Sure, that three-car pileup at the L-1 intersection needs attention, and soon, just like your leg pain does. But remember that there are lots of other messages traveling along your spinal highway. If messages leave the brain headed one way (I’m going to answer the phone.) and then end up someplace else (Why do I keep bumping into the table?) it might be a good idea to call the physicians at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and see whether some “Road Closed” signs have gotten in the way.

Average Joes and Josephines ask questions like these because:

A) They know health-conscious food choices are important, especially considering the potential problems out there — everything from diabetes to heart disease.

B) They don’t have the expertise to weed through all the facts, figures, jargon and rhetoric out there regarding nutrition and health.

That’s why hospitals, nursing homes, health and wellness centers, schools and many other organizations employ well-trained nutritionists. Whether it’s helping patients fuel their bodies for quick recovery or advising an entire workplace or classroom, nutritionists use their expertise to lead people toward a healthier lifestyle.

At hospitals like Eastern Idaho Regional, nutritionists carry out comprehensive plans tailored to each person’s needs. It starts with assessing the patient’s situation. Then a customized meal plan is carefully crafted, monitored and adjusted as needed.

In the last phase, nutritionists teach their patients effective nutrition tips before departure from the facility. Ideally the result is a healthier lifestyle, which aids recovery and helps prevent future health complications.

The ever-mounting pile of evidence linking poor diet with health problems isn’t going away. And as workplaces become more health conscious, the prevalence of nutritionists will follow.

It’s probably a good thing, because questions such as, “Is four donuts at breakfast too many?” shouldn’t be left unanswered.

Recently, we opened a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit here at EIRMC. In addition to our already standing 10-bed Pediatric wing, this has added a great resource for local children to be able to receive critical care services without having to travel out of our area—keeping children and families together.

Children’s critical care services are made possible by the addition of Pediatric Intensivists to the medical staff. These specialized physicians bring with them the training, knowledge and experience to treat even the sickest of children in our PICU.

EIRMC welcomed Dr. Jeremy Hertzig as the head of our new PICU, when it opened this last February.

As a Pediatric Intensivist, Dr. Hertzig is an expert in caring for the sickest kids, monitoring them for the slightest changes and helping to structure their acute care. Along with a team of highly specialized nursing staff, respiratory therapists, physical and occupation therapists he uses the most advanced equipment to tailor care for even the very smallest patients.

When speaking about bringing care closer to this area Dr. Hertzig says, “ It is heartwarming the gratitude parents express for being able to stay close to home with their child and not being displaced to Boise or Salt Lake.”

We extremely grateful too!

Eastern Idaho has a gained an invaluable resource, not only in our PICU, but in a great physician!

Unfortunately, deciphering your body’s signals can be as confusing as figuring out what the acronyms in your teenager’s text messages mean—BRB, BTW, TTYL, LOL, WYWH. You might need a list of common texting phrases (like this one) just to figure out what they are saying to you.

Just like texting, merely listening to what your body is saying may lead you astray. When your alarm rings for your early morning workout, your body may say, you deserve an extra hour of sleep. A late night message from your body that you deserve a snack or a glass of wine may not be the most reliable message to listen to either.

But what if you learned to translate the messages your body gives you? If you learned to listen to what your body is really saying, you could give your body the TLC (an acronym you know!) it is craving and still meet your health goals. Here are some keys to understanding what your body is really saying.

Identify true hunger versus emotional eating. Keep track of what and how often you eat by keeping a food journal. Sometimes seeing it in print helps you assess whether it is true hunger or whether you are actually feeling bored, upset, stressed or tired.

Cravings = nutrient deficiency. Cravings are a sign that we are missing some vital nutrients that would help us feel satisfied and balanced. For example, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, you may intensely crave chocolate or chips (or maybe chocolate chips). While they taste great for the first few bites, it will eventually bring your cravings back full force. Eating protein and other nutrient rich foods, on the other hand, will satisfy your cravings longer and help you make it through the afternoon slump.

Try water first. Often when you feel hungry, you are actually dehydrated, but your body is sending you mixed signals. Turning to water first may satisfy your hunger and help you feel better all around.

Recognize hunger and cravings as a signal to reduce stress. Eating will rarely reduce stress long term. To reduce stress, get out and get moving. The increase of endorphins and change of pace will help you resist the urge to eat.

Practice. Don’t feel bad if you thought you were responding to your body’s signals only to find you have been tricked into eating too many goodies and snacks. Just as it takes practice to be text savvy, it takes practice to correctly interpret your body signals. You can start by adding nutrient rich foods to your diet and recognizing the effects on your energy level, hunger, and mood. You can also find support groups of others who are striving to meet their health goals. Also consider connecting with professionals at our Wellness Center, who can help you meet your health goals.  We have exercise physiologistswho can develop an exercise program just right for you; we have dietitians who can help you develop healthier eating habits; we even have a psychologist who can help you understand more about issues that might be preventing you from achieving your health goals. Call to find out more 535-4200.

Identifying what your body is really telling you can be tricky. When you begin to understand the signals your body is sending you, not only will you feel healthier and avoid unnecessary weight gain, you will become your own BFF (best friend forever).

It has happened to everyone at least a few times. You stand to walk, start to sit down, or move in the wrong way ….and all of a sudden, you don’t feel so great. Whether it is a crimp, a twinge or a twang, it is uncomfortable, but quick.

For most of us, those little crimps and twinges go away on their own. For those with sciatic pain, they more than likely will not.

Symptoms of sciatica include:

• Consistent pain on one side of the lower back, buttock or leg

•Burning or tingling down the leg (vs. a dull ache)

•Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot

•A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up or to walk

Sciatica is not a diagnosis in itself. It is a symptom of an underlying condition or back issue.

The cause of sciatica is the roots of the spinal cord being compressed. This can happen at multiple points at the end of the spinal column. Because the symptoms of sciatica can be from numerous causes, treatment options vary just as much.

All non-surgical and surgical options have a goal of relieving the pain caused by these compressed nerve roots. A combination of treatments may be needed in order to fully remove the pain. Here are a few non-surgical options for sciatic relief:

Applying both heat and ice is a good way to curb pain and inflammation caused by the root irritation. Make sure you ice before you add heat to reduce inflammation and then ease the muscles.

Pain medications can dull the pain of sciatica, while anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or napoxen) can help with the inflammation causing sciatica pain.

If no home treatments are working to relieve the pain, it is worth talking to your back specialist about steroid injections to relieve the inflammation. This treatment lasts longer than other medications and may allow patients to continue with physical therapies that can help to relieve pain in the long term.

If the prior treatments do not yield any benefits, surgical options are available. This treatment is especially effective in those patients whose symptoms result from a specific disc herniation.

Sciatica can be a real pain…in the leg. There are many options to help. Find what treatment works for you!

Like a colorful rainbow, medical care should include a full spectrum of services for every patient regardless of their age—from a simple doctor’s visit to critical care – is important for providing a community with great local care. Residents of southeastern Idaho now have access to a brighter, more colorful spectrum of care with the addition of our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

A PICU is enhances the spectrum of critical care services for young patients for five (if not more!) very important reasons:

1. PICU fills the gap- Adults are cared for in the ICU (intensive care unit), while newborns as young as 22 weeks gestation are cared for in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). So what about everybody in between? That’s where the PICU comes in. Any infant or child up until age 18 with serious injury or illness can receive specialized care specific to the unique needs of growing children.
2. Constant monitoring- A PICU is specifically equipped for constant monitoring and intensive nursing care. Children in the pediatric intensive care unit often need continuous support and monitoring of their heart rates, breathing, and blood pressure. The equipment and personnel are all in place to do this round the clock.
3. Specialized treatments and medications- Medications can affect any person in many ways—that is especially true when dealing with children. Certain treatments, such as ventilators or particular medications require close medical supervision to watch for dangerous side effects.
4. Full access- In a pediatric intensive care unit, like the one here at EIRMC, you have access to pediatric intensivists—doctors trained specifically for pediatric critical care situations. In addition to the intensivists, there are respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, social workers and nutritionists all specially trained to deal with pediatric patients. Child Life Specialists are also on hand to help families and children cope with their current situation.
5. Higher level of medical care- Often children need a higher level of medical care than what is provided on pediatric floors. After surgery, children may need intensive care and can be sent to the PICU to recover. Other conditions treated in a PICU are: breathing problems from asthma, serious heart conditions, complications from diabetes, or the recovery needed from a serious accident.

A fuller, more vibrant spectrum of care is now provided by the spectrum of services here at EIRMC. Between NICU, PICU, Pediatrics, ICU and all the other great services offered here at Eastern Idaho Regional you know you are getting a full spectrum of care right in your community.

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a condition in which your heart is unable to maintain adequate blood circulation to your body.

If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, then you are already very aware of the symptoms. You have fatigue, trouble breathing, coughing and wheezing and swollen limbs.  And you just plain don’t feel like yourself anymore.

Heart failure is a chronic condition, one that you must learn to live with.

But that is just it. You CAN learn to LIVE with it!

Life with heart failure will be different. It cannot be cured, but through changes such as a close physician relationship, the proper medications and lifestyle changes, it can be controlled.

Because congestive heart failure can worsen over time, routine care is one of the most important steps to keep you from experiencing exaggerated symptoms or deteriorating faster than anticipated. Keeping in close touch with your primary provider or a heart failure specialist can make all the difference in your health and how you feel day to day. Cardiologists can help closely monitor changes in your condition and can adjust your treatment plan accordingly.

These providers will also make sure that your medications are at a correct level for you condition. Your heart failure will be ever evolving; your medications should be too.

You should also be aware of how your lifestyle and diet can affect how you feel. Keeping in line with a low-sodium diet and eating heart healthy foods, which are low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol will help. Some other examples of lifestyle changes that can make you feel better are: quitting smoking, monitoring your blood pressure, staying active and managing stress levels.

By taking the right steps, heart failure is a chronic condition you can LIVE with!

EIRMC has a dedicated Heart Failure Clinic located in our Wellness Center here in Idaho Falls. Services of a heart failure specialist, plus team coordination with nutritionists and other healthcare professionals, can help you manage your health and improve your overall wellbeing. To make an appointment call: 208-535-4200.

Spring is in the air, and as the temperature rises, so too does the desire to get back in shape. For a growing number of Americans, however, the road leading back to a healthy weight can be so steep it may seem impossible.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2010, 69 percent of adults were overweight with almost 35 percent classified as obese. For the one-third of American adults struggling with obesity today, the hardest step can be finding a weight-loss program that helps address their long-term health. With so many miracle weight-loss solutions advertised, it may feel to know where to turn for help. Dr. Brian O’Byrne of EIRMC offers the following advice:

“Keep in mind that numbers don’t lie. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines overweight as being 10 percent over the ideal body weight. The easiest guide used to define obesity is the body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a simple calculation using your height and weight. Determining an individual’s best options for medically supervised weight loss often begin by checking their BMI.”  Finding out what your own BMI is a good way to know where you stand personally.

A healthy BMI is defined as 18.5-24.9. For individuals with a BMI above the average range, often times the best remedy is good old-fashioned exercise. Doctors will frequently prescribe exercise as a type of medical treatment rather than prescription medications or more invasive surgical procedures. However, committing to an exercise plan is sometimes easier said than done, which is why many doctors in Bonneville County refer many weight loss patients to exercise physiologists. These medical professionals, like the ones at EIRMC, act as personal trainers and weight loss coaches to ensure that the patient benefits from a medically sound, personalized exercise program.

Exercise physiologists help the patient by:

• Evaluating the weight loss patient’s overall health, especially the patient’s cardiovascular condition and metabolism.
• Performing exercise stress tests to determine the patient’s level of fitness.
• Creating personal exercise plans to improve strength, stamina, flexibility and overall health, all while meeting medical weight loss goals.

The benefits of an active lifestyle are no secret—exercise physiologists and doctors alike understand that physical activity helps treat and prevent many weight-related diseases, like diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis.

In addition to the support that exercise physiologists offer, having a registered dietician on your side is another crucial step to losing weight. Not only does a dietician stay up on current and accurate nutritional information, they can customize a food plan tailored to your specific needs—and they’ll be there to make sure you follow through with it.

Dieticians, exercise physiologists, as well as weight loss counselors, are there to ensure that you lose weight in a healthy and effective way. There’s never a “one size fits all” solution when it comes to medically supervised weight-loss, but taking proactive steps is the best way to minimize serious health issues.

To make an appointment with an exercise physiologist or a dietician contact The Wellness Center at EIRMC: 535-4200

We all know that we need to put our health at the top of our to-do list.

Eat right. Exercise often. And you’re done.

Not quite yet. There is another component to your health that needs just as much attention.

Your mental health.

Long days at work, family problems and other everyday problems can sometimes tear away at our overall well-being and put a strain on our mental state.

The good news is that just like your physical health, there are steps you can take to protect your mental health. Here are a few ways to you to keep your psyche in shape.

Eat right.

Just how the right food can do a world of good for your body, eating right can help your mind. By eating healthy you are giving your brain the vitamins and minerals it needs to function on the highest level.  They also help keep your energy levels high so you can fight off stress and other triggers of a poor mental state.

Stay active.

Ever been angry and felt like taking a long walk? Exercise goes a long way in helping quell many emotions. An active state gets endorphins flowing through your body and helps relieve stress.  Exercising can also take your mind off pressing issues or help you work through them.

Limit Stress.

Being aware of the stressors in your life is important. By putting yourself in a constant state of stress, we activate that flight or fight reaction in the brain. A constant heightened level of stress hormones is what causes a chronic stress condition and all of the accompanying risk factors. If you feel like you can’t get rid of some of the stress on your own, seek help. Everyone struggles with their circumstances at some point or another, and that is where a professional will be helpful.

Make time for yourself.

Time alone is a very precious commodity in the way that it is hard to come by, and that it is also essential to your mental health. If you can’t escape in body, you can escape through your mind. Mind quieting techniques have been shown to have a profound effect on levels of stress and overall happiness. Learning about meditation and mindfulness techniques can have a marked effect on the quality of your daily living and lifestyle.

Work on your relationships.

Taking the time to nurture the valuable relationships in your life is one of the most important things you can do to help your mind. To find joy and trust in another person is the perfect way to feel fulfilled and happy. In great relationships you can find not only a confidant to share your worries, you will also find happiness and laughter—two of the best medicines around.

Although sometimes we don’t put ourselves or our minds on the top of our to-do list, we should. Take a few extra steps to ensure that you stay as happy and healthy as possible.

There may not be a more important choice concerning your health as a woman, than choosing a great OBGYN.

Patient and physician relationships should always consist of friendly and open dialog. With women’s special needs, this desire for a great relationship is exemplified. Choosing a doctor with whom you are comfortable and have a complete trust is essential for you and your future little ones. An OBGYN is a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics—a medical doctor who knows everything there is to know about women and their babies. Women’s issues are complicated, ever changing and at times very personal. OBGYNs fill the role of not only a provider, but a very close confidant.

Because women’s health issues can delve into the uncomfortable, a great OBGYN helps you feel at ease when discussing the most intimate matters. They are there to help you through all of your life stages. Whether you’re a young woman, a new mom or a woman of distinguished age, a great OBGYN will get you through all of your life transitions. Tailoring care, procedures and specific screenings to your age, health history and personal needs is essential.

When you’re ready to be a mom, an OBGYN is your first resource for a healthy and happy pregnancy. From pre-conception advice, to your first ultrasound and finally your perfect birth plan, a great OBGYN will be guiding you every step of the way.

So remember when choosing an OBGYN, consider what kind of relationship you would like to have and make sure you receive the care you deserve.